Beach House’s third studio album shows the band’s shift to a more pop sound while staying true to their ethereal style.

Teen Dream is the first album released after the band changed labels, moving to Sub Pop. The indie rock influence is evident in the new album by a band that’s usually described as “dream pop” because of their slow, steady songs filled with experimental sounds.

Victoria Legrand’s ghostly voice and organ lines along with Alex Scully’s subtle guitar and keyboards are still the main focus of the music, maintaining its trademark style. But Legrand and Scully experiment with new sounds on Teen Dream, drawing influences from ‘70s and ‘80s pop – synthesizers included.

Legrand’s lyrics are mainly cryptic and unclear, but the main theme of the album seems to be lost love and heartache. “Zebra” begins the album with an atmospheric guitar and a barely-noticeable hi-hat, later joined by Legrand’s breathy voice in steady melody, giving us a general idea of how the album will sound.

In contrast to the slow songs that feel almost absentminded, “Walk In The Park” is as close as Beach House can get to an up-beat tune, sounding like a slow dance song in an ‘80s movie.

Previous Beach House albums have been praised mostly by alternative and indie music magazines and fans. Teen Dream has the potential to satisfy the eager underground audience as well as making mainstream critics recognize them as one of the best current indie bands.